Room2Move Urban Fitness Centre, 5571 Cunard, is celebrating its first anniversary in business with a member’s bash, complete with a disco ball in the aerobics room. “It’s amazing,” says owner Danny MacKinnon, “it’s like ‘oh my god, I’ve been in here working this many hours for a year?’” The party isn’t until December 2, but Room2Move’s official anniversary was October 15. The past year has seen much growth for the north end neighbourhood gym, from its new fitness classes like cardio striptease and African dance, to a complete facelift on the exterior of the building and this week’s new additions of masssage therapy and a juice bar. MacKinnon attributes Room2Move’s success to its people-friendly approach to business: “We’re different,” he says. “We’re a neighbourhood gym and we don’t take a big hard sales approach,” ”
Royal treatment
David Finlayson is the new owner of King of Donair in Spryfield, at 378 Herring Cove Road. Finlayson took over on September 9. “It’s going pretty well so far,” says Finlayson. “I think there’s a lot of potential in the area—there’s so many different groups of people and so many new houses being built. I think it’s going to be a pretty steady climb in sales over the next month.” Finlayson’s franchise specializes in KOD’s traditional fare of pizza and donairs, but it’s also equipped to make “anything to do with fryers,” including fish ’n’ chips, poutine and burgers. With a background in event management and sales and marketing, Finlayson is busy learning the ropes of the fast food biz. “I’m totally new to this industry,” he says. “It was a big jump for me and it’s a very steep learning curve. But I’m learning pretty quickly and the quality of our product’s much better since we came in.”
Refreshing heat
Cozy Corner Saunas and Juice Bar is open at 152 Ochterloney in Dartmouth. Cozy Corner has three saunas for people to drop in and use—two of which accommodate two people, so you can sweat in good company—and the shop also sells them. All of Cozy Corner’s saunas use infrared heat, which heats the object, not the air. “Your body produces infrared heat for warmth and for tissue repair, and it’s a very natural heat,” says owner Catherine Whittaker. “That’s why you’re always hugging your husband, saying ‘oh, keep holding me, I’m frozen,’ because you want to hold onto that feeling as long as you can because it’s so natural. Going into the sauna’s the same thing.” Infrared saunas also provide a number of benefits. “There’s so many different benefits you can get from it,” says Whittaker, “and people come in for a lot of different reasons but they get the benefits of every one as a bonus—like you go in because you’re stressed, and you lose weight at the same time.” Cozy Corners is the Maritime distributor of Euro-Saunas, for those who want to experience the benefits every day. The juice bar is in a separate section of Cozy Corner’s heritage home, and Whittaker invites people “to come in and enjoy the atmosphere, whether you love saunas or not!”
Eco baby
Parenting by Nature, a “natural parenting boutique with a conscience,” is open. Owner Tamara Champion runs a shop out of her home in Dartmouth, and has also created an online shop at www.parentingbynature.com. Parenting by Nature sells a range of environmentally friendly and ethically produced products for mothers and their children. Champion got the idea when she was pregnant. “When my daughter was born, I started looking for healthier baby products and children’s products, and unfortunately didn’t find very many,” says Champion. With Parenting by Nature, Champion wants to help “parents who want the absolute best for their babies while also creating a more sustainable future.” Roughly 80 percent of Champion’s products are created by work-at-home mothers, and her “lovable, soft creatures” are hand-knit by a women’s cooperative in Kenya. “I like that I’m helping their families too,” says Champion, “and I don’t sew, so it works out well for me.” To visit the showroom, call Champion at 431-8584 to arrange an appointment.
Hair be gone
Be Natural Laser Clinic opened in September at 780 Windmill in Dartmouth. “I just wanted to make laser affordable to women who were suffering from excess facial hair,” says owner Claire Lasnier. “I knew it was a big problem, there were a lot of women out there that needed the service.” Be Natural’s most popular service is the Intense Pulse Light Photo-Rejuvenation, used for treating age spots, sun damage, rosacea, wrinkles and other skin damage. “The bright light penetrates the skin and brings the pigment up to the surface and the cells basically shed the pigment,” says Lasnier. “We cater to people who like to have privacy, so when someone comes out of their treatment there’s not two or three people waiting in the reception area, we make sure it’s very private.”
Share the love
Mr. Romance, located in Barrington Place Shops, is expanding its business with a new website (www.mrromance.ca). “Now we can spread the love all over the province, the country and the world,” says owner Cordell Beaton.
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